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Ranolf and Amohia

I

I.

  • "Shall we run into the cloudlet, love, so luminous and while
  • That is crouching, up in suns/tine there, on yonder lofty height?
  • We could step out of the splendour all at once into the mist—
  • Such a sunny snowy bower where a maiden might be kissed! From the woody lower terrace we could climb the russet sleep
  • Near that chasm gorged with tree-tops still in shadow dewy-deep,
  • Where another slip of vapour, see! against the purple black, Set on fire by the sunbeam which has caught it there alone, Like a warrior-chief inciting his adherents to attack,
  • Has upreared itself upright with one imperious arm out-thrown!
  • Up that slope so smooth and ruddy we could clamber to the crags
  • To the jutting rim of granite where the crouching cloudlet lags;
  • In anil out the bright suffusion up above there in the skies,
  • I would follow my fleet darling by the flashing of her eyes,
  • O'er that lofty level summit, as they vanished vapour-veiled,page 298
  • Or would glitter out rekindling and then glance away to seek,
  • Like swift meteors seen a moment, for some other silver streak—
  • Now bedimmed and now bedazzling till each dodge and double failed,
  • And I caught her—O would clasp her! such delicious vengeance wreak
  • On those eyes—the glad, the grand ones! on that laughter-dimpled cheek,
  • Till with merciless caresses the fine damask flushed and paled,
  • And half-quenched in burning kisses those bewitching lustres quailed!"
  • "Nay, but Rano, my adored one—O my heart and souls delight
  • Scarce with all your love to lead me—fold me round from all affright—
  • Would I dare ascend that Mountain! woody cleft and fissure brown
  • Are so thick with evil spirits—it has such a dread renown!
  • Such a hideous Lizard-Monster in its gloomy shades it screens,
  • That as rugged as the rocks are, winds along the closeravines—
  • E'en asleep lies with them sinuous like a worm in twisted shell—
  • And has eaten up more people in old days than I can tell!
  • Would you go and wake that Taniwha! O not at least to-day:
  • Look how lovely calm the Lake is!—'twill be sweeter far to straypage 299
  • In the blue hot brilliant noon-tide to each secret shadowy bay,
  • And afloat on liquid crystal pass the happy time away! "—

So he, who when he had his will,
For pleasure always went up hill,
So Ranolf spoke; and so replied
His wildwood bride, the diamond-eyed,
When morning's beam began to burn,
Up-springing from their couch of fern
By charming Tara-wera's side.
A little plot of smooth green grass—
By tapering trees thick-set and tall
Beneath grey rocks that rose o'er all,
Shut in behind—a verdurous wall
Circling that lawny flat so small
Down to the very water's edge,
That spread in front its liquid glass;—
Not far from where, 'mid reed and sedge
The warm Mahana's rapid tide,
A mile-long stream scarce six feet wide,
Comes rushing through the open pass—
As seeks a hot and fevered child
Its Mother's bosom cool and mild—
To Tara-weras' ample Lake;
This shallow niche, tree-girt and green,
With nought its still sweet charm to break,
The lovers' lonely bower had been.